Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Drifting is a lonely thought. Just sitting in a boat, letting the water move you to wherever it wills. Loneliness, longing, sorrow--these are all emotions that could come to mind when thinking of this idea...of drifting. Yes, there are some positives, especially through the Daoist ideology, in which one is supposed to literally go with the flow and let the Dao, the natural life force, guide them. But this isn't China, this is the cold land of the midnight sun. This is the frozen north. The promised land of metal. The land of reindeer, the land of lakes and forests, the land of vodka, saunas, some juniper beer, fish, and more vodka. This is Finland.

My friend was impressed with my handling of "Why Eric the Red is my favorite Tyr album," and my review of Ensiferum's Unsung Heroes and requested I write about "The Longest Journey," the epic closing track to From Afar, possibly my favorite Ensiferum album.

To begin with, "The Longest Journey" should always be listened to with "Tumman Virran Taa," the song's intro, preceding it. This fifty-three second track is in Finnish, sung with a low, sad, solemn chorus, goes perfectly with the song itself. "The Longest Journey," just as "Tumman Virran Taa" before it, is about the Finnish underworld, Tuonela (or Manala) and the journey to reach it.

The imagery and writing of this song is amazing. It begins with a quote from the Kalevala itself: "Could my ruin have come, My day of trouble have arrived, In these Tuonela cabins, These abodes of the dead land?" Already, the sorrowful emphasis of Finnish folklore, reflected in many of Ensiferum's lyrics, can be seen, coming from the source of Finnish folklore, the Kalevala. Already ruin and day of trouble are bringing an idea of sadness and defeat.

Tuonela, "far beyond the dark stream," is a land where "pagan souls will roam...wild and free." Here these souls, "wait for a sign," a sign for the time when they will ride once more. Only the bravest can cross the dark stream into Tuonela, while the souls of lesser men will drown in the stream. The souls of men are tested here, before they can enter, as they drift along the dark stream.

Compare this to the Norse idea of the after life. The bravest of men go to Valhalla, to live with the gods, while those not so brave go to Hel, to whither away for eternity. Valhalla, unlike Tuonela, (I'll not get into the fact that one is a hall, one is a land) is a place where men fight all day and drink and feast all night, waiting for Ragnarok. The Finns in Tuonela seem to be waiting for some kind of Ragnarok, a time when they will ride again. While the Norse party for eternity, the Finns, ever sorrowful, roam the cold lands for eternity. Where would you rather go, fighting/drinking/eating land or the frozen wastes of wandering souls? You can definitely tell how Finnish mythology is related to Norse mythology, but with a distinctly Finnish feel to it.

Finnish folklore, according to Sami Hinkka, is full of longing and sorrow, and this can be seen in this song, among others of Ensiferum's. "He's been drifting for so long," sing Sami and Markus, "searching for the land where heroes roam." This line, sung by the glorious clean duo of Markus and Sami, echoes. It puts the listener in the mind of a lonely man, searching for death--for Tuonela.

"The Longest Journey" is a slow song, one of Ensiferum's slowest. It really makes the listener feel like they are drifting along a stream, freezing and lonely, ever searching for the afterlife. There is also hope, possibly referencing another song off of From Afar, "Twilight Tavern," which describes a Finnish version of Valhalla that must exist in Tuonela. Either way, this is a very epic song. It combines slow a slow opener and closer, strong verses from Petri, epic and emotional choruses from Sami and Markus, and, as ever, talented and fitting instrumentals that go perfectly with the themes of this song. Even as I write this, I must pause and sing at the top of my lungs along with these masters, "The longest journey of them all, has to be made all alone! The flame in the skyline reaching the stars, guiding the seeker through the night!" One can not help but become emotionally attached to this song.

In an effort to stifle a ramble--something I have been unsuccessful at before--I must end my thoughts here. Please listen to this song, with "Tumman Virran Taa" before it. Close your eyes and feels the music, listen to the words, and experience the emotions in this masterpiece.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

I know this is coming a bit late, since Unsung Heroes came out quite some time ago and might not even be considered a 'new' album. Anyways, I have nonetheless decided to write down my thoughts on this, the fifth full length album from the heroic, Finnish folk metal masters, Ensiferum.

I was as giddy as a school boy waiting for this album, listening to every live version of as many of the songs as I could (it was really just "Burning Leaves). When the video for "In My Sword I Trust" was released I watched that too much as well. I was a bit excited for this release.

When the album came out, I had to wait a couple days still because my order was coming from Finland, so I was forced to stream it off of YouTube while I waited. My first reactions were not as pleasant as I might had hoped. The songs at first did not seem to connect as well as those did on From Afar. Slow, emotional songs were preceded by fast and powerful, boisterous songs, metal in every sense. The bombastic and epic "Pohjola", with its massive Finnish verses and orchestration was followed by an emotional song of glorious defeat and death on the battlefield. And then there is "Passion Proof Power"...I'll get to that later on. My first impression was not quite the best, but that is not to say that I disliked it. "Burning Leaves" quickly rose up the ranks of my favorite songs of all time and "Pohjola" was my victory song after turning in a large research paper on the Winter War. I nonetheless needed to give the album as a whole some time.

I listened to this album many times, going from song to song in order and at random, listening to them on their own and in the sense of the album as a whole. I once saw an interview with Sammi in which he explained that Ensiferum was not happy with Victory Songs and wanted their next album to be their best to reflect this, and that they also wanted to tone it down a bit from From Afar. I don't know what they're talking about about Victory Songs...I absolutely love that album. Yes, From Afar is a bit spaghetti and good, bad, and ugly, but it may be my favorite album of all time--or at least pretty close. Nonetheless, Unsung Heroes does not disappoint, joining the ranks of great folk metal albums, among their previous releases and those of other great folk metal bands.

Unsung heroes has something for everyone. Ensiferum proves their depth and talent in creating an album that perfectly blends various types of songs. A slow song sung by a female vocalist stands proud with the boisterous "Pohjola." A song perfectly brought from the folk tradition into the world of metal follows two epic, truy metal songs about heroes and swords and stuff. Even "Passion Proof Power" impresses when you give it time, harkening to some of metals great long songs.

I guess now is a good time for my long-winded opinion of this song...feel free to skip this, it might get a little messy. "Passion Proof Power" pains me. It is such a beautiful and masterful song, with meaning deep within its lyrics and powerful, finely tuned guitars. Ensiferum has crafted this epic using everything in their arsenal. But it is so difficult to listen to. It is seventeen minutes and one second long. That is five minutes longer than their previous long album ender, the great and legendary "The Longest Journey." I love "Passion Proof Power," but it took hours of listening to it and the entire album for me to do so. When I first listened to it, I don't think I got five minutes in before I skipped back to the beginning of the album again. Please don't get me wrong,

I do love

this song, but it is because of my love for this song that I am angry about it. I wish it was three minutes shorter, I wish the intro was shorter and there wasn't a break in the middle (what's up Die Apokalyptischen Reiter). I wish that the singing began sooner and that the great guitar work didn't wait so long. I fear that Ensiferum may have alienated some of their fans with this song, as t briefly did for me. To listen to this song, you do need to devote seventeen minutes to it, which can be difficult (I can complete my commute to school in half the time this song takes). I am only saying this because I want this song to be one of Ensiferum's best, because it is. It is an opera, a masterpiece, but even masterpieces have their faults sometimes. I will always enjoy this song, and hope you give it a chance if you haven't already. Okay, deep breath, back to the album.

I love Unsung Heroes. It begins with a medieval sounding intro, one of Ensiferum's best, which I saying a lot because each of their full length albums begins with a great intro. Once the beautiful intro is complete, the album charges into battle with its sword held high. "In My Sword I Trust" should be a sign to all that Ensiferum has not lost its roots, its heroic beginnings with the likes of "Battle Song" and "Into Battle." Next the title track, a powerful and emotional call to those forgotten in history and time. "Unsung Heroes," does not disappoint, bringing forth talented guitar work, shadowed by slight orchestration, and the powerful metal vocals of Petri. Don't be fooled, this is still a meaningful song as it slips into the slower, choral chorus. I love this song... "Burning

Leaves" speaks for itself, as the folk song made metal, the ancient tradition perfectly brought forth into the modern world. Opening with Marcus' dulcimer, the main, folk melody opens the song peacefully, then with a slap as the same melody is taken up by Petri and his powerful guitar. This is song about defeat in defending a tradition, a sacred tree in this case. The emotion and meaning come forth in the chorus, cleanly sung by Marcus and Sammi, is deep and moving, while the harshly song lead vocals come from Petri with epic, heroic inspiration. A truly great song.

From there, Ensiferum moves into ground they have broken on a few occasions, and well I think. “Celestial Bond,” is sung beautifully by Laura Dziaduledwicz. I have to point out, though, that although I do not agree with this, there are some who are alienated by this song, citing it as an example against the virtues of Unsung Heroes. Nonetheless it is a beautiful song, and those worried about the ‘metal’ integrity of the band have their fears dispelled as soon as this song ends and the next song begins. “Retribution Shall be Mine” is another great among Eniferum’s arsenal of faster, heavier songs. The band quickly moves back into meaning over ‘metal’ with the following track, “Star Queen.” I am quite partial to this song, myself, with its emotional chorus and moving verses. This is one of my favorite songs from this album, a great example of a lighter folk metal song. “Pohjola” is an epic song, in every sense. About a distant realm from Finnish mythology, this bombastic and epic song, sung entirely in Finnish, is just...great. Listen to the epic chorus’ and the grand orchestration and see for yourself. More meaning comes from the next song, “Last Breath,” a moving song about a warrior’s last words, as he lies bleeding on the battlefield. “Don’t cry for me, my son,” Sammi sings, for he isn’t the only warrior on the ground that day. This song will bring a tear to the manliest tears to the eye of any listener. Next is “Passion Proof Power,” see above for my opinion on this song...

I apologize for rambling a bit, but I had a lot to say about this album, and I did my best to do so. Please give this album a chance if you have no already. If some of the songs rub you the wrong way at first, simply skip to the next one and return later to give it another chance. Open your ears and your mind to Ensiferum and there is a beautiful, epic, heroic world waiting for you, in Unsung Heroes just as much as in any of their previous great works.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

I
never have an easy time answering the question: "what's your
favorite..." I can never decide, especially when it comes to my
favorite something in metal. My favorite band of all time is
easy--that's Blind Guardian for a few reasons, mostly on account of
the entire year I spent listening to them in high school...but beyond
that, I don't know. Favorite folk metal band? Pfft, best I can do is
top three. Favorite song? How about top ten--but I digress. The issue
at hand is my recent decision that Eric the Red is my favorite Tyr
album.

This
epiphany occurred recently when "Sand in the Wind," off of
How
Far to Asgaard,
came on in my car. It had been a long time since I'd listened to this
masterpiece--and a master piece it is, in my opinion--and I rocked
out in a way that I haven't in a while. Since that fateful day, I
have listened to "Sand in the Wind" more than a few times.
The more I listened to this song, and others from How Far to Asgaard,
the more I came to realize the virtues of Tyr's first album. There is
a certain purity to it, a raw brilliance, an innocence almost. The
vocals are light and clear, sung beautifully by Pol, while the guitar
solos are strong and pure, masterfully performed by Heri. "Sand
in the Wind," as I mentioned before, is particularly masterful
to me. The symmetry in the notes that begin and end the song, the
brilliant, ambling solo in the middle is almost mesmerizing and Pol's
singing is emotional and thought provoking. It really does paint the
picture of wind, of time, of the pointlessness of it all, of fate;
everything is like sand in the wind. "How Far to Asgaard"
itself is epic and grand, while "Ormurin Langi" is slow and
moving, the perfect balance of metal excellence and sophisticated
folk music. As far as first albums go, How
Far to Asgaardis
no doubt exemplary.

Some
of the purity, in the sense that I mean, has gone from Tyr since How
Far to Asgaard.
That is not to say that every release from the Faroese folk metal
artists is less a perfect mix of pure folk tradition and
groundbreaking metal, but that the band has refined its sound and
become heavier and more epic. The power of Tyr's more recent work,
the pure power of Heri's voice and the massive guitars riffs that
strike through the songs, have evolved from the purity and raw beauty
of How
Far to Asgaard.

Don't
get me wrong, I think that each of Tyr's releases is beautiful and
masterful in its own way. Ragnarok,
for instance, is one of, if not the best concept albums ever made;
not to take away from By
the Light of the Northern Star,the
heroic telling of a dark and desperate time in Faroese history. Land
is
epic in every sense of the word: long songs, massive songs, booming
vocals, and powerful guitar work made it so. The
Lay of Thrymis
a call for freedom and is as powerful, emotional, and heroic as such
a call always should be. It is certainly hard to find things to
complain about from Tyr. Yes, their most recent album could be seen
as a little too political, but not so much as to take away from the
album. And yes, some might not think of Tyr as "brutal" or
"metal" enough, in the sense of Slayer or Cannibal Corpse.
Tyr requires a more refined metal pallet to enjoy, and looking beyond
their few faults reveals masterpieces almost beyond count. Emotion
and meaning pump through Tyr's lyrics, telling stories centuries old,
bringing back to life a heroic past still alive in few people. The
intricate, powerful guitar work of Heri and Terji is overlooked by
most, I think, for its excellence in any genre.

What
about Eric the Red?
What was Tyr's second release like, after line-up changes and six
years without a release? Why is it TJ's favorite Tyr album? A simple
answer is that the first track is that track that really sucked me
into Tyr. But the real answer, the answer that inspired all of this,
is that it is as follows.

AfterHow
Far to Asgaard,
Pol left the band and Heri, already lead guitarist, took up the
responsibility of lead vocalist. The purity of How
Far to Asgaard,
the raw and pure sound that was refined in further albums, is still
there in Eric the Red. The biggest difference, the deciding factor
for me, is Heri. I will always love Pol and his beautiful voice, but
nothing beats the power and majesty of Heri's. Eric the Red is a
mixture of How
Far to Asgaardand
the albums that followed. It brings together the epic power and
exemplary folk metal that Tyr has become known for and the purity and
innocence of their first album.

Already
with "The Edge," more power can instantly be heard in the
deeper, slightly darker almost opening riff. It then moves into a
powerful melody soon to be embraced by the lyrics. Then comes Heri's
voice, his powerful and epic voice, beginning a heartfelt story from
the past of his people. This is one of the most important things to
understand about Tyr. What they sing about is their people, the
people of the Faroe Islands, the descendants of Vikings who were
converted away from their traditions by the sword in 999 CE. A
tradition whose remnants are threatened even today by modernization
and a select few who view their customs as evil. "The Edge,"
getting back on topic, is a beautiful, meaningful song. It is the
story of a man sentenced to death for his staunch resistance to
Christianity. He tells his people not to cry for him. Not to cry at
his funeral. What he did was selfish, he did it for himself; for the
sake of his family he should have "lied and played their game."
Now I hope you can see why this meaningful and emotional, epic song
drew me in to become a huge fan of these masters of folk metal.

"The
Edge" is followed by one of the best examples of a folk song,
straight from a Faroese line dance, made into an epic metal song:
"Regin Smidur." It is is in Faroese, so I cannot
particularly say what it is about, just that is about a legendary
blacksmith and it is one my favorite songs of all time. The way it
opens with a growing, distant hum, with Heri's voice beginning the
first verse, followed closely by a key aspect of Tyr's music: the
chorus. Faroese folk tradition is told by voices, by words not notes,
by singers not instrumentalists. It is the power of this tradition
that lends power to Heri's voice, indeed to the voices of the band as
a whole. This song is one among many that exemplifies this tradition
and its life within Tyr (see the song "Ormurin Langi," off
of How
Far to Asgaardfor
a great example of this tradition). This song moves swiftly between
slow, repetitive chorus' and the quick, melodic verses brought forth
by Heri, punctuated as ever with powerful guitar work.

"Dreams"....what
could possibly be said about "Dreams" that “Dreams”
doesn't say about itself? Anyone with any sympathy for myth, legend,
folk tales, heroic stories, or even bedtime stories will love and
appreciate this song. Tales of faraway lands, tales of long ago are
evoked in this song about the power of myth, about the life that can
be brought forth with words alone. This is a beautiful, slow, and
meaningful song, that I think speaks for itself.

I
will not bore you with long-winded descriptions of every song on
this, my favorite Tyr album. There are fun songs about drinking and
the dangers that it can bring, about dancing in the woods with
mystical creatures, and meaningful legends of giants. Current events
are blended with tales from the past, as Eric the Red questions new
religions and the Rainbow Warrior questions old ones.

I
want to thank you for reading my pedantic and long-winded discussion
on one of my favorite bands and my recently determined favorite album
of theirs. I have a passion for culture and history, and of course
for metal. Tyr blends all of this and more together perfectly. If you
have not listened to much Tyr, do not be scared away by my over
analysis of their work. Just sit back and listen. Let the guitars
rock you and the words move you, and hopefully you might come to love
this band as I do.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

I am out of town this week and have pre-recorded a mythology themed night for you guys, including my interview with Chris, the lead singer and sexy keytarist of Alestorm. I hope you enjoy the show, including the third hour, appearing for the second time. Here is the playlist: